Perhaps this was the power of love!

The icy aura between heaven and earth vanished in an instant.

Hai Bodong's expression grew grave. He could sense that Queen Medusa was far stronger than she had been over a decade ago.

Never mind his current self-even two of him from ten years ago probably would have been no match for her.

He knew perfectly well that Queen Medusa had already reached Peak Dou Emperor, perhaps even surpassed it!

With his strength now reduced to Dou Ling, Hai Bodong had no chance of defeating someone that powerful.

"You want me to submit?" Hai Bodong remained calm, then said bluntly, "Impossible!"

"I, Hai Bodong, have roamed the Jia Ma Empire unchecked for decades. What raging winds and towering waves haven't I weathered? I will never submit to the Snake-People Tribe."

Chen Xuan narrowed his eyes at the unruffled Hai Bodong. "Do you know what you're saying?"

"Hahaha!" Hai Bodong burst out laughing, then his expression turned cold. "What have I, Hai Bodong, ever feared?"

"At worst, I'll die. After all these years, I've lived long enough!"

Chen Xuan was somewhat surprised by his words.

Hai Bodong truly deserved his former reputation as the Ice Emperor whose name had shaken the Jia Ma Empire. He still had the bearing of a powerful warrior, unlike those who would grovel just to cling to life.

"Hmph!"

"If he wants to die, grant his wish. It's time my sister was avenged!"

Queen Medusa's icy voice rang out in Chen Xuan's mind.

Although the tribe's laws had played a part in her sister's death, Hai Bodong had also borne much of the responsibility.

Otherwise, how could Medusa have accidentally killed her own twin sister?

"Is that so?" Ignoring Queen Medusa completely, Chen Xuan narrowed his eyes at Hai Bodong. "Then I'll grant your wish!"

"You should have died over a decade ago anyway!"

As his words fell, Chen Xuan raised his palm slightly, and black Dou Qi surged out.

The black Dou Qi slowly gathered into a gigantic black hand in the air, which reached straight for Hai Bodong.

"Cough!"

In an instant, the black hand seized Hai Bodong by the throat and hoisted him into the air.

Seeing that Hai Bodong offered no resistance, Chen Xuan's expression darkened slightly. "It seems you really are determined to die!"

He had not made even the most basic attempt to resist. It seemed Hai Bodong no longer intended to live.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

"You're right. I, Hai Bodong, should have died long ago. I should have died with Die on that day over a decade ago."

Hai Bodong coughed incessantly in the black hand's grip, yet a smile appeared on his face.

His thoughts returned to that day over a decade ago, beginning with his meeting with that woman of the Snake-People Tribe.

She had been so kind, so beautiful. Back then, Hai Bodong had secretly sworn to protect her for the rest of his life.

But fate had toyed with them, and she had died in his arms just like that.

She had yearned for freedom!

In her final moments, she had finally...

Finally stepped into freedom!

All these years, he had dragged out his wretched existence, his heart steeped in torment.

Perhaps it was heaven's will!

Queen Medusa had found me, and now I could finally be free and return to her side!

"Die!"

"I'm coming!"

Tears lingered in Hai Bodong's eyes as he slowly closed them.

Seeing his expression, Chen Xuan could not help feeling a flicker of anger.

If Die had not risked her life to help him back then, Hai Bodong might have died long ago. He had never expected this man to face him so cowardly now.

He had not only abandoned resistance, but also the conviction in his heart!

"Hai Bodong, how very noble of you. You just want to leave everything behind, don't you?"

"I suppose Die saved you for nothing. Her life was wasted on a useless wretch like you. Her soul yearned for freedom, and she entrusted you with seeing this world in her place. I doubt you can fulfill that wish either!"

"I yearn for a life of freedom. My name is Die!"

"I can't go on with you anymore. Keep seeing this free world for me!"

Suddenly, memories surfaced in Hai Bodong's mind like a succession of images.

Freedom!

It had been Die's lifelong wish, but being born into the Snake-People Tribe had denied her that chance. That was why she had named herself Die!

She had hoped that one day she could flutter freely through this world like a butterfly!

Even in her final moments, her light had still shone into Hai Bodong's heart, turning him from an utterly cold man into one who would love forever.

Chen Xuan's face darkened as he snapped, "You want to die, do you?"

"Then die!"

As his words fell, Chen Xuan clenched his hand, and the terrifying hand in the air unleashed tremendous power.

At that same moment, Hai Bodong's eyes flew open.

That's right!

I couldn't die yet!

He had promised her. He had promised to take a good look at this world for her, to see all the sights she had never seen. That was the oath Hai Bodong had sworn in his heart.

Crack! Crack!

A surging torrent of icy power erupted from his body, his terrifying Ice Dou Qi raging unchecked.

In an instant, it condensed into an enormous ice dragon in the air.

Roar!

A fearsome dragon's roar thundered through the sky, its tremendous might shaking all of Mo City.

At once, every powerful warrior in Mo City was jolted. They slowly raised their heads and gazed at the enormous ice dragon soaring high above the heavens!

"Dou Wang?!"

Nearby, Yue Mei and Gu He exchanged glances, a trace of surprise on their faces.

"Is that... an ice dragon?"

"What happened? How could there be such a terrifying aura?"

"This aura seems to have already reached the strength of a Dou Wang!"

"..."

In an instant, every powerful warrior in Mo City wore an intensely grave expression.

Such a terrifying aura had appeared in their frontier city. It truly left them shaken.

Meanwhile, Chen Xuan narrowed his eyes, looking somewhat surprised.

"This fellow actually managed to break through my Snake Curse Seal and recover his Dou Wang strength?"

Queen Medusa was surprised as well.

After all, Hai Bodong had been afflicted with her Snake Curse Seal. Maintaining Dou Ling strength all these years was already impressive. She had never expected him to regain Dou Wang-level strength.

"Perhaps this is the power of love!"

A smile appeared on Chen Xuan's face.

The enormous black hand in the air had already vanished. Hai Bodong hovered in the sky, his Dou Qi Wings trembling.

"What's wrong, Hai Bodong?"

"Afraid of dying again?"

Chen Xuan mocked Hai Bodong as he watched him hover in the air.

"Queen Medusa, I can submit to you, but my condition is that you must never make me kill innocent humans!"

Ignoring Chen Xuan's mockery, Hai Bodong stated his terms directly.

Hearing this, Chen Xuan replied slowly, "Welcome to our ranks. I believe you'll find this a wise decision someday!"

"You knew all along that he would submit?"

At that moment, Queen Medusa suddenly spoke.

If Chen Xuan had wanted to kill Hai Bodong, there would have been no need to go to so much trouble. He had probably been waiting for this outcome all along.

"Of course. I believe in the power of love!" Chen Xuan answered directly.

"The power of love?" A glimmer appeared in Queen Medusa's eyes before she continued, "Then what if he still hadn't resisted in the end?"

Chen Xuan narrowed his eyes. "Then he would have had no value left!"